Chapter 8

Chi Daqiang’s body swayed slightly. He walked over and slapped Chi Junshu hard across the face, then turned and kicked Chi Junjie, who was helping Lin Ru up.

“You bastards! You sons of bitches!”

Chi Daqiang was so angry he was nearly vomiting blood.

Suddenly, he remembered the secret behind the wardrobe in the master bedroom. He staggered back into the room. With everything looted, it was easy to spot the brick that had been removed from the wall.

The box still had ten gold bars left.

Chi Daqiang collapsed to the floor with a thud, wailing and crying hysterically.

While everyone was in chaos, Chi Yiyi quietly slipped out of the space and appeared in the small courtyard of the Chi house.

“Yiyi, go inside quickly and take a look. Your house was robbed — it’s been completely cleaned out!”

Before Chi Yiyi could respond, two police officers walked in through the courtyard gate.

From inside the house, Chi Junshu suddenly shouted, “Officer! I remember — I wasn’t the last one to leave the house. My sister was still at home when I left!”

Chi Daqiang, furious, roared, “Chi Yiyi! Where are you? Get the hell out here!”

“The whole house has been robbed clean, and you’re just lying at home like a corpse?”

The neighbors all knew that Chi Daqiang was the type who would hit his children, so one of them stepped forward to hold onto Chi Yiyi.

Someone stood up to speak for her.
“Chi Director, you can’t just take your anger out on Yiyi. She went out this morning too — we all saw her. So your house being robbed has nothing to do with her.”

Lin Ru added, “How can it have nothing to do with her? Chi Yiyi was the last person to leave the house. Maybe she left the doors and windows unlocked. Who knows, she could’ve even conspired with the thieves!”

Lin Ru had been humiliated by Chi Daqiang that day, so now she wanted to throw all the dirty water on Chi Yiyi.

Someone shouted, “Lin Ru, you’re the stepmother. You really shouldn’t talk like that. Don’t go around slinging mud at Yiyi without proof, especially in front of the police officers.”

Chi Yiyi was genuinely touched inside. The neighbors living around the Chi family still had conscience and kindness in them.

Meanwhile, not far from the Chi house, the Zhou family had also heard that the Chi family had been cleaned out by thieves.

Zhou Father and Zhou Mother exchanged a meaningful glance — could the same thieves who robbed the Chi family be the ones who hit their house too?

But Zhou Mother quickly shifted her attention to Zhou Zixiao.

She gently tried to persuade her son, “Son, I know you can’t let go of Chi Yiyi. But don’t worry. After something this big, Chi Daqiang will definitely drag her over to you if he has to. So for now, hold back and don’t make the first move. If they come begging, I’ll make sure to give you face.”

Zhou Zixiao thought it made sense. He believed Chi Yiyi must be throwing a tantrum, and this family disaster gave her a reason to come back to him.

Zhou Mother didn’t know whether to be relieved or anxious — her precious son was so clueless about romance, but at least he wasn’t dumb otherwise.

But Zhou Zixiao waited the entire afternoon, and Chi Daqiang never came with Chi Yiyi.

He finally couldn’t sit still and headed to the Chi house around dusk. He didn’t run into Chi Yiyi, but instead bumped into Chi Bilian, who had just been discharged from the hospital.

“Zixiao-ge.”

Chi Bilian had just learned that even her room had been emptied out. Now, facing Zhou Zixiao, she cried pitifully, like a delicate flower in the rain.

Lin Ru said, “Zixiao, are you here to see Yiyi? She hasn’t come home yet. But poor Bilian… the doctors said she needed to stay in the hospital longer, but we really have no money left.”

Zhou Zixiao knew Chi Bilian’s injury was because of him, so he couldn’t help but pull some money from his pocket.

“Lin Auntie, I heard what happened. Bilian’s injury must be properly treated. This isn’t much, but take it for her treatment.”

Just as he handed the money over, Chi Yiyi walked out from behind a corner.

“Yiyi.”

Zhou Zixiao suddenly felt guilty being stared at by Chi Yiyi’s eyes.

He instinctively snatched the money back from Lin Ru’s hands.

Lin Ru and Chi Bilian were furious — the little wench just had to show up now of all times!

But Lin Ru quickly forced out a fake smile in front of Zhou Zixiao.
“Yiyi, you’re finally back. Do you know we were robbed? The thieves took everything — even the door panels! And your little attic…”

Chi Bilian quickly interrupted her, “Sister, where have you been all day? It’s good you’re finally back.”

But Zhou Zixiao still caught the key part.

He turned and asked, “Auntie Lin, what about Yiyi’s attic?”

Lin Ru forced out a smile uglier than crying.
“Nothing. It’s… fine.”

Zhou Zixiao shoved the money into Chi Yiyi’s hands.

“Yiyi, no matter what, we’ve known each other since childhood. With what’s happened to your family, of course I’ll help.”

Chi Yiyi looked down at the hundred-plus yuan in her hand. Zhou Zixiao really was generous. It looked like the Zhou family still had hidden stashes of illicit wealth. She decided to find a way to tail Zhou Mother tomorrow. If she could clean out the Zhou family before she went to the countryside, that would be perfect.

After all, her space could only evolve by absorbing antiques and gold.

Chi Yiyi shoved the money back into Zhou Zixiao’s hands.

“Forget it. I know you didn’t want to give that money to me. Give it to whoever you like.”

After all, if she kept the money, Chi Daqiang would just force her to hand it over when she got home.

Chi Bilian gave Lin Ru a look, urging her to speak.

Lin Ru quickly got the hint.
“Yiyi, stop being jealous. Yes, Zixiao originally wanted to give the money to Bilian — because her arm is still injured! Of course the money should go to her treatment!”

Zhou Zixiao said, “Auntie Lin, enough. I’ll make sure Bilian’s injury is treated, but this money is for Yiyi — now.”

Lin Ru almost fainted from rage. What happened to this stupid rich boy? Why was he suddenly waking up?

Chi Bilian clenched her fists silently. A man like Zhou Zixiao — young, rich, and from a good family — was someone she must win.

She suddenly said, gently and weakly:
“Sister, I just want to ask you not to make things hard for Zixiao-ge anymore. There’s nothing between me and him. When you two get married, I’ll give you my deepest blessings and the biggest wedding gift.”